Returning to the Blogosphere – gay marriage and racism

I was on vacation from as much time in front of the screen as possible during July. In August I vowed to reactivate my blogging. But what to say when you’ve been gone awhile? How do you get restarted in the stream? What is worth saying that someone else hasn’t said? Two items have me motivated finally this morning.

“Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license. Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite sex couples are superior to same-sex couples. Because California has no interest in discriminating against gay men and lesbians, and because Proposition 8 prevents California from fulfilling its constitutional obligation to provide marriages on an equal basis, the court concludes that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.”

Getting no “rational basis” for discrimination into the law for GLBTQQ folks is a great step forward in civil rights.

Sadly, racism is alive and tormenting people right here in Albany, NY. This news report on channel 13 Monday came to my attention via email from a member of my congregation. A couple of African descent have received threatening phone calls after moving into a neighborhood in Albany that I’m guessing is predominantly white. Neither the couple nor the neighborhood was named. Such harassment is completely unacceptable and should be dealt with very seriously by the police. Since, at this point, we don’t know the neighborhood, I hope the family’s neighbors who are not racists and aware of the situation will step forward to be publicly supportive of them. When people stand publicly against racism, they undermine the implicit consent that comes with silence.